Effects of Suspended Culture of the Seaweed Laminaria japonica Aresch on the Flow Structure and Sedimentation Processes

The culture of suspended kelp, such as Laminaria japonica Aresch, has arisen in nearshore areas for approximately 30 years since the 1980 s. This long-term activity has significant impact on the regional hydrodynamic and sedimentary environments. In this study the impact was investigated, based on synchronized multi-station data from continuous observations made within and around the culture area. In total, three current velocity profiles were identified inside and on the landward side of the culture area. Based on the current velocity profiles we calculated the boundary layer parameters, the fluxes of erosion/deposition, and the rate of sediment transport in different times at each observation site. Comparison between culture and non-culture periods showed that the presence of suspended kelp caused the reduction in the average flow velocity by approximately 49.5%, the bottom friction velocity by 24.8%, the seabed roughness length by 62.7%, and the shear stress and the flux of resuspended sediment by approximately 50%. From analyses in combination with the corresponding vertical variation of the suspended sediment distribution, it is revealed that the lifted sediments by resuspension is mixed with the upper suspended material, which will modify the regional distribution of suspended sediment. These changes in flow structure and sediment movement will accelerate seabed siltation, which corresponds to the changes in seabed erosion/deposition. However, under the influences of the seasonal changes in kelp growth the magnitude of change with the seabed siltation was not obvious inside the culture area, but a fundamental change was apparent around the culture area.

The Origin and Preservation of Suspended Barites near the 90°E Ridge in the Northeastern Indian Ocean

Suspended particulate barite crystals were detected in the water columns at four different stations near the 90°E ridge in the Indian Ocean.Four distinct morphological types of marine barites were distinguished:euhedral-subhedral crystals,oval or round crystals,rhombic crystals,and irregular crystals.The barite crystals in the study area are typically fine,with a dominant size of 1–3μm.The vertical distribution of barites is significantly affected by the formation and sedimentation processes.Barites begin to appear at a depth of 30 m and are formed primarily from the surface to the depth of 2000m with a concentration peak at the depth of 200m,where particles are coarser than those in the other layers.The barites begin to settle and dissolve once formed in the water column,resulting in finer barite particles and lower particle concentrations.The formation of barite crystals is related to biological processes associated with the decomposition of barium-rich skeletons in the microenvironment of decaying organic matter that is affected by the primary productivity and dissolved oxygen content in the water column.The dissolving process of barite crystals showed similar variation with the concentration of dissolved barium in ocean water,and the substitution of strontium for barite in crystals promotes the selective dissolution of barite and exerts an important impact on its morphology.It is approximately 33%of barites in the amount and 22%in the concentration to settle to the bottom of the water column compared to that observed in the main barite formation zone.